Typewriting guide



Dec. 13, 1949 R, R, POTTER 2,491,332

TYPEWRITING GUIDE Filed May 25, 1948 JNVENTOR.

E ass el! R ,770 Zzl" Patented Dec. 13, 1949 UNITED STATES PATeNT orner.

27,491,332 T YREWQITING GUIDE Russell R. Potter, Jackson Heights, N. Y. Application May 25, 194.8, Serial No. 29,048

(ci. isi-iop 6 Claimsl This invention relates to a nger vguide for typewriters and more particularly to a set of finger guide vanes which are adapted to be placed between certain of the rows of keys of the typewriter for 4guiding the lingers of the operator, particularly while learning.

An object of the invention is to provide Va novel and improved guide of the above type.

Another object is to provide a guide of the above type in which the various vanes `may be individually removed `as desired in accordance with the progress of the pupil.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

In accordance with .the present invention. the guide comprises a plurality of vanes each of which is adapted to be inserted between adjacent rows of typewriter keys and which are removably assembled Aon a support which is .adapted to be inserted in the typewriter in back of the rkey,- board. A Vmaximum of seven vanes are used, which may be spaced in accordance with the keys to be struck by the variousngers. As the :student progresses certain -of the vanes may be -removed until eventually -only the Ycentral vane yremains to space the fingers ofthe two hands. For ymore experienced operators this vane may also be removed without removing the back supporting member.

This invention will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. ll is a top plan View yof a typewriter keyboard with the guide in place;

Fig. 2 is a partial detail view of the supporting member;

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections taken along the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the shape and manner of attachment of the Vanes; and

Fig. is a horizontal section taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2, but on a larger scale.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, Fig. 1 shows a standard typewriter keyboard including a typewriter front plate It and a keyboard frame Ii This keyboard includes the usual number of keys I2 and a space bar I3.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of vanes I4 are disposed between the various rows of keys I2. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the vane I4 is provided with a suitably 2 curved .bottom .edge L5, which is shaped t9 resi across the key bars iii. and is provided with a top edge ii which extends `suiicierl.bly above the .level of the keys I2 to form a guiding vane for the fingers. The bottom edge I5 of the vane i4 is located below the lower position of the keys indicated at 12a so that there is no possibility of the keys engaging the vbottom edge LLfi o i the vane and lifting the Asame during the operation Of the typewriter.

As `shown in Fig. l, the center vane I4 separates the keys which are to be struck by the right hand from those which are to be ,streek with the lefl'f .b23151- JEhe second .venes Mia Vare spaced two keys on either side of the center vane i4. -he 4twg) rows o f keys between :the Yanes 1.4 and .IM .are tre. by the :first negers .of the two hemis- 'llle third vases :ist are spaced from the Yanes er igieclude Ia .single :row Qf keys wie@ :t e lier/e .to 'te :struck by the Second :essere @1.1.1.6 :few-2th vanes I4c are spaced from the yanes Mib to include a single row of keys which are .to be Vstruck by the third fingers- Tltefremeinieg 'liefs which are orithe cutside gf the @Yanes Meer@ the to :be .struck by the little finger Qf sash iler-ii Ffh@ restarting member for the varices venes Ill comprises a plate 20 which is adapted to be inserted in front of the front plate it of the typewriter and in back of the keyboard and may be provided with securing means if desired, such as screw holes, not shown, arranged to coincide with the screws or other means present in the particular type of machine for which the shield is designed.

The plate 2i! is provided with securing means comprising anges 2I which are struck out from the plate 2i) and form a channel 22 therebetween in which the vanes are secured. The flanges 2! are provided with tapered top edges 23 and are so formed as to leave bottom edges 24 and top edges 25 dening the opening 2t in the plate 243. The end of the vane I4 to be secured in the channel 22 is provided with a U-shaped clip 3Q which is permanently secured to the vane by suitable means, as by adhesive, and is rounded at its central portion as indicated at 3| (Fig. 5) to provide a substantial amount of resilience. The clip Si! may be formed integral with the vane I4 if desired. The vane I4 and clip Si) are made of resilient, flexible or pliable, material, such as a suitable plastic. The clip 30 projects beyond the end 32 of the Vane to form a top shoulder 33 and a bottom shoulder 34. The bottom shoulder is substantially wider than the top shoulder, as indicated in Fig. 4. The shoulders 33 and 34 are adapted to engage the edges 25 and 24 respectively for securing the vane when the latter is snapped into position. The clip 30 is suciently resilient to slide between the flanges 2| and to grip the same for preventing the vane from being removed. The rear edge 32 of the vane engages the plate 20 above and below the opening 26 to position the Vane.

In assembling the vanes it is only necessary to insert the lower edge of the clip 30 into the channel between the tapered portions 23 of the flanges 2l and slide the clip downwardly to the position indicated in Fig. 5. When the clip has reached its proper position, the lower shoulder 34 engages the edge 24 of the plate 20 to limit further movement of the vane and the upper shoulder 33 snaps into position below the edge 25 of the plate 20. For removing the vane from the plate 2i] it is only necessary to pull the top portion of the Vane forwardly against the resilience of the clip 30 so as to bring the shoulder 33 out of engagement with the edge 25 of plate 20, and then to slide the vane and clip 30 upwardly in the channel 22.

The vanes I4 are sufliciently flexible to be properly positioned between the keys as indicated and may be attached to the plate 20 before positioning the latter in the typewriter or may be separately attached after the plate 20 has been positioned. In either event it is possible to remove any selected vane or vanes While leaving the remainder of the vanes in place, or if desired to remove all of the varies while leaving the supporting plate 29 in place so that the Vanes may be again positioned as desired.

Although a specific embodiment has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that various changes may be incorporated therein as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art and that the invention may be applied to various uses.

What is claimed is:

1. A guide for typewriter keyboards having a plurality of rows of keys, comprising a supporting plate adapted to be positioned along the back of the keyboard, a plurality of vanes removably carried by said supporting plate and positioned thereby to extend between selected rows of keys in accordance with the fingering of the keys, each of said vanes extending above the normal position of the keys to provide nger guides and extending downwardly beyond the lower position of the keys when depressed to prevent the keys from lifting the same, and removable means attaching each of said vanes to said supporting plate comprising flanges on said supporting plate forming a guiding channel therebetween, and a resilient U-shaped portion on each vane adapted to slide vertically in said channel.

2. A guide, as set forth in claim 1, in which said anges are struck out from said plate.

3. A guide, as set forth in claim 1, in which said U-shaped portion comprises a clip projecting beyond the rear edge of said vane to form top and bottom positioning shoulders.

4. A guide, as set forth in claim 3, in which the bottom positioning shoulder is wider than the top positioning shoulder to limit the downward movement of the vane and the top positioning shoulder is adapted to be released by pulling the vane forwardly against the resilience of the U-shaped clip.

5. A guide, as set forth in claim 4, in which the flanges are struck out of Said plate to form an opening between said flanges having upper and lower edges to engage said shoulders.

6. A guide, as set forth in claim 5,' in which the vane is formed with a rear edge to engage the plate above and below said opening for positioning the vane.

RUSSELL R. POTTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 502,685 Terry Aug. 1, 1893 1,377,070 Helguera May 3, 1921 1,389,419 Briggs Aug. 30, 1921 

